Lake of the Trees Bible Camp, a 35-minute drive north east of 100 Mile House, gets into full swing in early July with all of the outdoor fun and activities one would expect, but it also offers so much more.
The Bible camp also provides an opportunity for campers to explore the Bible and ask questions.
"It's not a forced matter," says camp director Tom McIntosh.
"We see many kids come that don't go to church, and here, they get a chance to explore something they otherwise wouldn't get a chance to [experience]."
The camp is open to children from all backgrounds, and they come from all over British Columbia and Alberta, with the majority from the South Cariboo.
Camp life is busy and Christian-centred, with reference to the Bible lightly interspersed throughout each day. Campers gather daily at the chapel and nightly at the campfire to sing Bible songs and learn more about the scriptures.
Another big part of camp life is enjoying meals together in the dining hall.
While cooking may not be thought of as rocket science, at Lake of the Trees, it certainly is. Food services manager, Roger Elyea, is a former NASA scientist who worked on rocket re-entry for the first 12 Apollo missions.
He is also McIntosh's father-in-law and Elyea slowly got drawn into the camp kitchen on the merit of the great home-cooking he enjoyed doing for his family.
"It's really good food, and food is to camp, like water is to a lake," says McIntosh.
At Lake of the Trees, Elyea not only serves delicious meals, such a homemade lasagna and sticky buns, but he is also popular with all of the campers for his interesting background and stories.
The camp averages between 50 and 60 campers per session and they are housed in seven cabins. There are also two additional cabins for work crews and four staff cabins.
Camp work crews and teen leaders are volunteers, which helps keep costs affordable for campers.
People who donate money for camp sponsorship are also an integral part of the system, as they provide a camping experience for a child who might otherwise not be able to attend, McIntosh explains.
"They sponsor kids for camp, so we don't have to say ‘no’."
McIntosh notes there are early bird savings for folks who register before May 31.
For more information about the camp, or to register, visit its website at www.lakeofthetrees.com.
Lake of the Trees is one of 43 Bible camps across Canada, owned and operated by the Canadian Sunday School Mission.